FC Pune City has a team for playoffs, says Iain Hume

Pune: In a team that has likes of Emiliano Alfaro, Marcelinho, adding Iain Hume makes it the most potent striking force. FC Pune City’s Iain Hume feels with him and the new players added, the team can surely do something they haven’t done in the past.

“To be honest, two (Alfaro and Marcelinho) of them for the last two years and myself for four years, we score goals, we work hard for the team. So I think everyone will expect us to keeping scoring goals and win the league but that isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to be a lot more competitive league this year. We are just going to continuing doing what we have for our teams and maybe do something for the team that we haven’t in the past,” said Hume on the sidelines of his team’s pre-season training in Goa.

The Canadian striker is Indian Super League’s highest goal-scorer with 28 goals in 59 appearances moved from Kerala Blasters FC to the Pune franchise earlier this season. For him, getting back on his feet is the biggest target than maintaining his top billing. “FC Pune City is doing everything to make me fit and that’s what my plan is, to get back to playing games,” said Hume.

For now, Hume is undergoing a strict recovery regime but seeing his club’s current squad in the pre-season, he is confident of the club making it to playoffs to begin with. “We have a right mix of experience and youth in the side and realistically we should look for a spot in playoffs and from their look at going into the finals,” Hume said.

He feels his addition along with other signings should influence the side in going that one step further. “Adding myself and couple of others, we are hoping that we can influence a little bit and who knows maybe go a step further than semifinals or maybe more,” Hume explained.

Ask him about Kerala and the prospect of facing his former side in Kochi, Hume is quick to profess his love and respect for the fans there. “I know the Kerala fans are incredible and they follow their team everywhere. The love and respect is mutual and I know it’s going to be hard to go there and play for us, but we have got a squad which is confident of achieving good results,” concluded Hume.